Hybrid Irrigation System Model for Coffee Propagation Tunnel

This study aims to create a model to determine the water requirement for the coffee propagation tunnel using a hybrid irrigation system. Adequate water supply is necessary in order to prevent water stress and over-irrigation. Ambient temperature, relative humidity and soil moisture are vital factors that affects the growth rate of the coffee seed during germination. In this study the hybrid irrigation system model is the combination of the misting technique and the drip irrigation method. Based on the data gathered at the National Coffee Research Development Center at Cavite State University, predictions has been made using the regression technique. Variables such as temperature, relative humidity and soil moisture were analyze using the regression to determine the equation that would describe the relationships between the variables. Furthermore, the relationship between the soil moisture and water requirement was also established in order to provide suitable irrigation model for the germinating coffee seed. Results showed that there is a weak correlation between temperature and relative humidity as well as temperature and soil moisture in a controlled irrigation for the propagators using the hybrid irrigation system. Likewise, the equation for the soil moisture and water requirement was determined. Therefore, this model suggest that if the relative humidity is maintained using the mist irrigation technique and adequate amount of water provided by the drip irrigation method to maintain the soil moisture an increased in the growth rate and shortened holding period in the coffee propagation tunnel will be achieved.